Wife of South Korea’s Imprisoned Former President Arrested on Corruption Charges

 

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested on multiple charges, including stock manipulation, bribery, and political interference.

During a four-hour court session in Seoul on Tuesday, Kim denied all allegations. However, the court issued a detention warrant, citing concerns that she may tamper with or destroy evidence.

This marks a historic moment in South Korea’s political history, as it is the first time both a former president and first lady have been incarcerated simultaneously. Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody in January following allegations of orchestrating a failed martial law declaration in 2024, which sparked nationwide unrest and ultimately led to his removal from office.

Prosecutors allege that Kim, 52, earned over 800 million won (approximately $577,940) through a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a South Korean BMW dealership. The alleged activities began before Yoon’s presidency but continued to cast a long shadow over his time in office.

In addition to the stock manipulation charges, Kim is accused of accepting luxury gifts—including two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace—from the controversial Unification Church in return for business favours.

She also faces allegations of interfering in political processes, including candidate nominations during the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections.

Dressed in black, Kim appeared subdued during Tuesday’s hearing. Addressing reporters briefly, she stated:

“I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”

While in office, former President Yoon vetoed three opposition-backed bills aimed at launching an independent investigation into his wife's alleged misconduct. His final veto came just a week before the declaration of martial law.

A special counsel investigation was eventually launched in June 2025, following the election of President Lee Jae Myung, Yoon’s political rival.

Source: The Ghana Report